Necklace c. 20th century

This turquoise and silver necklace was made by A'shiwi craftspeople, also known as Zuni artists. The colours are incredible, a kind of sky blue mixed with pale green, so each stone has a subtle variation and feels very natural. I love the way the stones are set in little silver flowers, like the artist is playing with the idea of growth and nature. It’s like they're building up layers of meaning and texture with these tiny, repetitive shapes. The process creates this beautiful, almost hypnotic effect. And then you’ve got that central pendant, shaped like a horseshoe with more turquoise cabochons, bringing a sense of completion and unity to the whole piece. I can see an echo of Frida Kahlo in this piece, especially in her use of jewelry to communicate themes of identity and cultural heritage. This is not just decoration; it’s a statement, a story, and a connection to something much bigger.